What We Learned From Our First ADHD Friendly Productivity & Wellbeing Workshop

ADHD Friendly Productivity & Wellbeing Workshop

Last Friday, Jess and I delivered our first ADHD Friendly Productivity & Wellbeing Workshop.

We spent three hours in a room full of people with different experiences, different jobs, different challenges and different personalities. Some were self-employed, some worked in traditional employment, some had formal ADHD diagnoses, and some were still exploring whether ADHD might explain some of the things they had struggled with for years.

On paper, they were all very different.

Yet there were moments throughout the morning where heads nodded in unison.

Moments when somebody shared a challenge and half the room laughed in recognition.

Moments when people realised they weren't the only person who had bought another planner, started another system, or promised themselves that next week would be different.

It was a powerful reminder that whilst ADHD can present differently from person to person, many of the underlying experiences are shared.

But perhaps the most important lesson from the day was this:

There Is No Perfect System

One of the biggest traps many people fall into is believing that somewhere out there is the perfect routine, planner, app, process or productivity hack.

The thing that will finally make everything click.

The thing that will suddenly make life feel easy.

The thing that will turn us into the organised, consistent, productive person we think we should be.

The truth is much less glamorous.

What works brilliantly for one person may be completely useless for someone else.

Some people thrive on structure.

Others need flexibility.

Some people need accountability.

Others need quiet space.

Some people work best under pressure.

Others need plenty of time to think.

The goal isn't to become more like someone else.

The goal is to become more aware of what works for you.

Finding Your Tribe Matters

One of the things that stood out most during the workshop was how quickly people began supporting one another.

Ideas were shared.

Experiences were normalised.

People recognised themselves in each other's stories.

And that's important.

Because ADHD can be incredibly isolating.

Many people spend years feeling as though they are the only person who struggles to start tasks, manage priorities, remember things, regulate emotions or keep up with daily demands.

When you find people who understand those experiences, something shifts.

You stop seeing yourself as broken.

You start seeing yourself as human.

Whether it's a friend, colleague, virtual assistant, coach, therapist, accountability partner, family member, support group or fellow business owner, having trusted people around you makes a huge difference.

We aren't designed to do everything alone.

Shame Is a Terrible Motivator

A theme that came up repeatedly throughout the workshop was shame.

Shame about unfinished projects.

Shame about missed deadlines.

Shame about forgotten tasks.

Shame about not living up to our own expectations.

Many people spend years trying to motivate themselves through criticism.

"If I was more disciplined..."

"If I just tried harder..."

"If I stopped being lazy..."

But shame rarely creates sustainable change.

More often, it creates avoidance.

The more ashamed we feel about something, the harder it becomes to face.

The more we avoid it, the worse we feel.

And so the cycle continues.

Learning to speak to ourselves with a little more compassion isn't being soft.

It's often the first step towards making meaningful progress.

Some Days Will Be Better Than Others

This might sound obvious, but it is something many of us need reminding of.

Some days you will feel focused, motivated and productive.

Some days you won't.

Some days you'll clear your to-do list.

Some days you'll stare at it and achieve very little.

That doesn't mean you've failed.

It means you're human.

The goal isn't perfection.

The goal is building enough understanding, support and self-awareness to navigate the difficult days without turning them into difficult weeks or months.

Talk To People

One of the simplest pieces of advice from the workshop was also one of the most important.

Talk to people.

Tell someone you're struggling.

Ask for support.

Share what's going on.

Borrow somebody else's brain when yours feels overloaded.

So many people carry things alone because they think they should be able to manage.

Often the biggest breakthrough comes when we stop pretending we're fine and start having honest conversations.

Diversity Makes Us Stronger

If there was one thing the workshop reinforced, it's that diversity is not something to be fixed.

It's something to be valued.

Imagine how dull the world would be if everybody thought the same way.

If everyone approached problems in exactly the same way.

If everyone had identical strengths.

The people in the room brought different perspectives, different ideas, different ways of thinking and different experiences.

That variety enriched every conversation.

The same is true in workplaces, businesses, families and communities.

Different brains bring different strengths.

And that's a good thing.

Don't Forget Your Superpowers

We often spend so much time focusing on our challenges that we forget to recognise our strengths.

Creativity.

Curiosity.

Empathy.

Problem solving.

Resilience.

Innovation.

Humour.

The ability to think differently.

The ability to spot opportunities others miss.

Everyone has strengths.

The challenge is often noticing them.

So if there's one thing we'd encourage you to do after reading this, it's this:

Take a moment to think about what you're good at.

What comes naturally to you?

What do people thank you for?

What do others rely on you for?

What makes you uniquely you?

Because whilst it's important to understand the challenges, it's just as important to recognise the gifts.

And if Friday taught us anything, it's that there is a room full of people out there who understand both.

And that can make all the difference.

Andiamo!